Bed bottom



y 3 D. E. AUSTIN 2,638,606

BED BOTTOM Filed July '15, 1948 2 Sheejzs-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Dw ght E. Austin.

BY @FM flZZu/"r/Ey May 19, 1953 n. 5.. Aus grm BED BOTTOM 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed July 13, 1948 INVENTOR. Dwi g ?\'t E. Ausi:

'fiZZ U/TIE Patented May 19, 1953 1 UNITED STAT Es PATENT OFFICE BEDBOTTOM Dwight E. Austin, Kent, on. Application July 13,1948,SerialNo.38,400

4 Claims. (01. -29) This invention relates to bed bottoms and there isdisclosed herein more particularly two different types of bed bottomsforv use on railway trains and the like and a bed bottom de- -.signedmore particularly for home use, etc. The

different bed bottoms will be separately described and reference will behad to the drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly broken away, of a bed bottom designed foruse on railway trains and the like;

Fig. 2 is a section, partly broken away, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective, partly broken away, of a bed bottomdesignd particularly for home use, etc.;

Fig. 4 is a view inperspective of a different bed bottom designed foruse on railroad trains and the like; I

Fig. 5 is a section through one of the elements shown in Fig. 4; and vFig. 6 is a view in perspective of the element a of Fig. 5' rolled upfor storage.

such as the tube 3 on all four sides. The usual frame-work does notinclude the vent holes 6 and l or the flange 8 which extends inwardlyfrom the tube 3.

According to this invention spongerubber strips H] are cemented orotherwise fastened to the tops of the tubes 3 and flanges B. The stripsare spaced a short distance in from the sides 2 of the frame. Thedrawings show the strips off-set inwardly from the inner edges of thetube. The flanges 8 give them the necessary support. Instead ofproviding flanges on the tubes, plates of the required width may befastened to the top of them. Any satisfactory support may be used.

A slatted mattress support is provided. The

plies I3 and M are of canvas or other suitable fabric which may betreated with suitable plastic to render it less pervious. A number ofrelatively narrow slats l5 arefastened between the fabric plies. Thesponge strips Ill permit the mattress support to give vertically, andalso permit lateral give toward the center of the box. Further supportis provided by the sponge-rubber blocks [2 which are placed laterallyacross the box I.

The tops of these sponge-rubber supports. are

preferably level with the tops of the spongerubber strips 10. In apreferred form of the invention, the sponge-rubber supports l2 areimpervious to air so that no air passes through them in eitherdirection. The reason forthis will be explained in what follows. Toprevent transmission of air through the supports, one or both sides ofeach support are preferably formed with a skin as is customary in theproduction of sponge'rubber from foamed latex. The slats lielongitudinally of the bed and if they extend its entire length they willbe supported at the head and foot by the sponge strips Hi. In thepreferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawings the slatsextend to within a relatively short distance-perhaps a foot, more orlessfrom the head and foot of the bed and are supported by the strips.I2 of sponge and not by the strips I0.

The slats may be of wood or steel or rattan or plastic or aluminum orother metal, etc. They may be one to three inches .wide ormay becircular or oval, etc. and are spaced a fraction of an inchto an inch.or more apart. The fabric I3, I4 is brought over the edge of the boxand fastened to the box by rivets IE, but other means for fastening thefabric to the frame may be used. These slats provide a relatively levelbase for the mattress without permitting enough sag in the longitudinaldirection to throw the occupants back out of line. They provide ahammock effect laterally without causing any great interference withlateral flexing.

. The supports I2 divide the box into air pockets or compartments I! andif these supports and the fabrics l3 and M are air-impervious, there isno opportunity for air trapped in them to escape except through thevents or valves 6 provided in each pocket. There may be but one .vent 1through the frame and outer Wall of the tube 3 because all of the valvese open into the tube 3. The valve means 6 and 7 may be simply smallopenings or spring valves, etc. may be inserted in them. The valve orvalves I may be in the side or bottom of the frame. As the train, goesover a bump,.which tends to quickly elevate the bed bottom, the weightof the occupant will compress the supports I2 and the airwill be forcedout from the pockets through the. valves 6 and I. The valves regulatethe air intake and there is no quick rebound. The tendency of the weightof the occupant to compress the supports l2 when thus jolted is dampenedby the limited size of the openings with resultant slow expulsion .ofthe air and the tendency to bounce the occupant is practicallyeliminated because the air returns only slowly. The slats areresiliently supported by the cover fabric I3 and I4 and the supports 12,and the strips along the sides of the frame give laterally inwardly asweight is applied. The effect of such support is to cushion the joltingwhich the occupant of a railroad bed is accustomed to experience.

A mattress of any construction'will be laid over the slatted cover. Athin sponge rubber mattress will give satisfaction. The bed thuscomprises, in addition to the mattress, a bed bottom which utilizes themetal frame nowin wide use in railroad cars, with the slatted coversupported on all four sides by resilient-cushions In. An importantfeature of the inventionis the substantially air-impervious resilientsupports l2 which, when cemented to the bottom of the box and also tothe cover, divide the con- -tents of. the framelaterally into airpockets ll. ;'I'hese air. pockets may be suitably valved toprovide'equal expulsion and intake'of air, to permit vrapid. expulsionof theiair with only slow re- .provided toxregulate the inflow .andoutflow of i turn, .or to..permit slowexpulsion with rapid return.Forexample, the frame may be providedwith additional openings valved topermit only. the outward or inward flow ofair. Valves of anydesiredconstruction and number may be airin any desired manner.

The tubesmay measureabout two inches and ahalf. in eachfdirection, andthestrips I0 may beaninch anda half thick, giving atotalweig'ht of.about four' inches'to the bed bottom. .The.

-' supports. 1 2r-may;.-be some three :orzfour; inches wide and in a bedbottomof the dimensions given,

.the supports will'ordinarily be four inches high.

The strips l0 are cemented to the tubes 3 and ..fianges= 8. IA.bedobottom of such construction ".with a relativelythin mattress hasbeen found -to giveanexceptionally comfortable ride on even .a badroad-bed.

The bed bottom .of Fig.3 is: designed. particularly: for :use inllthe.home. but .may .be utilized elsewhere.

It comprises .a bottom support 28,

which may -be of any usual construction and may be slatted or-solid. Asolid wooden bottom with wooden sides 2l will be found satisfactory.'Bed springs-22 cover this bottom. Each spring 'may be enclosed -in acanvas cover'23 oruthe covermay. be :omitted. Fig. 3shows the springssupported on a. canvas or other suitable fabric --bott0nrsheet'24,- withside sheets 25- of the-same at eachend. They may be spaced less than aninch apart unto-several inches apart. This slatted cover 26-15 supportedby the springs 22, and may be-suitably united to the side fabrics 25 by-pi-ping-2l'*which may include suitable cord material or the like.

This bed bottom fits into an ordinary bedstead. When-coveredby-amattress of any type it forms a resilientand. cushioned support in whichthe slats serveto-form arelatively flat-base with sufficient.flexibility. longitudinally: for comfort. but

without. sufficient longitudina1. .iiexibility.-.to. per- -mit a theoccnpants backuto be thrownout of 4 line. The separated slats give alateral hammock-effect.

Figs. 4:, and 6 illustrate another type of bed bottom designedparticularly for use on railroad trains and the like. It may be quicklydisassembled and is easily stored. It is formed of the two sponge-rubbermattresses 40 and 4|. These are separated by the slatted-fabric supportI formed of slats 42 held between two fabric covers in place and issupported"'bysaid'resilient memsuitable manner.

43 and 44. These slats may be of the same general construction as thosehereinbefore described and may be similarly spaced between the fabricplies 43 and 44. The sponge-rubber mattresses 'will preferably be wellcored, as at 45, to form a soft support. The bottom mattress 40 may sim--ply belaid on a floor or, if used on a train, will be'placed on asupport formed between two adjoining seats, or it may be used in anyother No retaining sidewalls are required, but may be used.

The... slatted. fabric provides ..a relativelyt levelsupportingmediumand with the'slats lying longitudinally of .the. bed,gives flexibility without permitting the occupants back to be thrownoutof. line. Thexslatted. fabric limits the extent to which the. spongewill. give outwardly when a weight is supported on it,: thus forming arelatively thick mattress of high lateral stability. When the bed isvnot in use, the-' sponge-rubber 'mattresses may be storedor usedfor anypurpose and the slatted fabric may be rolled-as indicated :in Fig. 6 andstored in-any convenient small storage space. Alternately,the...twomattresses and slatted support may-all be sewed into a suitableouter cover.

Each; of the-mattresses! and 4| may be made up of smaller units-suchasseat backs, etc., as may be convenient on a train. The

bottom mattress need not extend the whole length of the slatted cover,but maybe formed of-a number of pieces rather-widely spaced.

Alternatively, using an ordinary bed bottom or springs, and an ordinarymattress, which may be of sponge rubber, hair,etc., the slats may be'madea part of the lower cover of the mattress.

The use of narrowly-spaced slats running longitudinally of-the bed,-withthe slats which are slightly flexible fastened in'or to a cover membersupported at all four edges to give inwardly, -or

-with support extending inwardlyfrom all four Walls thereof;-a resilientmember on each of these supports, flexible slats extendinglongitudinally of the bedbottom; the slats being joined laterally byflexible means-which is connected with the sidewalls of the bO-X'SHDDOItto maintain them 'as'the desired bed, a'narrow' resilient cushionsupported by each wall'of'said' rectangular sup- --port, a flexiblecover member with flexible slats fastened thereto, each of the slatsextending'lon- 'gitudinally ofsaid rectangular support, resilientsupporting means supporting'each slat intermediateits ends-the covermember being supported :along each side'of the bed bottom-by theresilient cushions supported by *the side-walls of the rectangular.support.

3. A bed bottom which comprises a metal base with metal sides extendingupwardly therefrom, sponge-rubber supports on the interior of each ofthe four walls of the bed bottom extending the length of each of thewalls, a substantially air-tight cover member formed with closelyspaced,flexible slats extending longitudinally of the bed bottom, with thesides of the cover member supported by the side sponge-rubber supports,located transversely of the bed bottom spongerubber cushions resting onsaid base and supporting the slatted cover at spaced intervalsintermediate the head and foot of the bed bottom, said transversesponge-rubber cushions being substantially air-impervious and dividingthe bed bottom into substantially air-tight compartments, the said baseand side members of the bed bottom being substantially air-imperviousexcept for valve means controlling the flow of air into and out of eachof said compartments.

4. A bed with a head, a foot and two sides therebetween, which comprisesa frame substantially outlining the periphery thereof, supportsextending inwardly from portions of the frame at the head, the foot andboth sides of the bed,

a resilient member on each support, flexible slats extendinglongitudinally of the bed, the slats being joined laterally by flexiblemeans which is connected with the sides of the frame to maintain them inplace and is supported on said resilient members at the sides of theframe, and at least one resilient support for each slat intermediate itshead and foot.

DWIGHT E. AUSTIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 647,374 Brendel Apr. 10, 1900 1,347,666 Amey July 27, 19201,353,260 Monks Sept. 21, 1920 2,012,042 Gerlofson et a1 Aug. 20, 19352,039,289 Bergeron May 5, 1936 2,049,226 Gates Nov. 3, 1936 2,225,858Church Dec. 24, 1940 2,259,534 Reynolds et al. Oct. 21, 1941 2,371,788Weeber Mar. 20, 1945 2,400,790 Tolen May 21, 1946 2,425,728 Cobb Aug.19, 1947

